Cosby Back In Court: Prosecution Argues For More Accusers To Testify

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- Comedian Bill Cosby is back in court after a fiery pre-trial hearing yesterday.

Will the judge allow 13 additional women to testify against the comedian? That is the central question judge Steve O'Neill must answer.

"This is going to be a key ruling in the case because the main defense expected to be presented by Mr. Cosby is one of consent," explained attorney Gloria Allred, who represents some of the women named in the motion.

All 13 women say they were sexually assaulted by Cosby in the past.

"That would show a pattern, what we would call a signature and that would be a common scheme and that would, according to prosecution, show that there was an absence of mistake by Mr. Cosby," said Allred.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele argues the woman should be able to testify against Cosby's prior bad acts, saying the similarities in all of the cases show a distinct method of preying on his alleged victims. At one point Steele told the judge the 79-year-old comedian has a lifelong history of sexually assaulting young women.

But in his counter-argument, defense attorney Brian McMonagle calls the 13 allegations "a bandaged bandwagon of claims that have been put together in Pandora's Box."

McMonagle says since the 13 women can't recall exact days, time or even specific details of the alleged incidents, they should not be allowed to testify.

This was the last scheduled pre-trial motion before the June 2017 trial. The judge says the only possible motion left is a motion to change the venue. That motion has not yet been filed but that could be one last thing before Cosby faces a jury in 2017.

O'Neill did not make a decision from the bench as of Wednesday. His written ruling is expected to come out in a few days.